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TRIBEWORK is about consuming the process of life, the journey, together.

Friday, November 16, 2012

The Unity Together In Community

“For where two or three are gathered
in my name, I am there among them.”

— Matthew 18:20 (NRSV)

Though the actual context of the
above verse—where Jesus teaches on how to reprove a sinner within the church—is
different to the present context, it still demonstrates the power of gathering
in community under the name of Christ.

The Spirit of God is there with the throng who gather in harmony
with each other.

The key issue, here, is the unity
together in community—for, that is what I take the word community to mean:
commune (meaning together) in unity = comm-unity.

The Acts 2 (vv. 42-47) Church—where
followers of Christ had fellowship together with thankful and glad hearts—is a
shining example of God’s vision for community. There is no better experience on
earth than feeling thankful and glad with other people—where our perspectives
align enough that we can enjoy each other in the experience of simply being
alive together.

What is God’s Vision
For a Faith Community?

The Acts 2 Church is the
resonating exemplar of what community can become; that joy would consist in
fellowship together; where freedom of diversity within agreeable bounds was
celebrated.

About half a lifetime ago, for me,
I really didn’t get this aspect of Christ in community—I didn’t enjoy the small
group experience. I detested Bible study in groups. As a young man I had my
hang-ups about certain people. This was a barrier to my sharing and my
enjoyment and it reflected on others, I am sure. I guess I needed to be broken
to understand how broken we all are, and I am thankful for that learning.

God has taught me, that there is
grace and peace in community. As soon as I began to see how someone could
accept my failings within community—my faults of personality and my shameful
experiences of the past—that graced permeated me. Suddenly I could see the
glory in our imperfection; this glory going to God as we enjoyed imperfect
fellowship under Christ. It was like a switch was turned on—a real miracle
moment in my discipleship.

I think God’s vision for a faith
community is just that—as represented by Matthew 18:20. When we meet together
with grateful hearts and the preparedness for appreciation, we all gain the
personal and interpersonal blessings of God.

As we join with God, God joins
with us.

As we enjoy fellowship with one
another, with no thought for judgment other than to allow the Holy Spirit to
judge our own thoughts and behaviours, and to lead us quietly in repentance, we
have invited God to dwell in us and with us, and his love abounds.

If we desire God’s Presence, and
we should, because there is no better experience for humanity, we should know
that God makes his Presence known most obviously in and through enjoyable
Christian fellowship.